Think About It Thursday - FALL in Love

I always think of myself as a 'Summer Girl'...but I think I'm really an 'Every Season' sort of girl. By the time one is ending, I am so ready and excited for the next to begin! I have especially been feeling like that this week. Yesterday I added some burgandy and mustard yellow mums to the front planters and they are making me so happy! Today I'm making some pumpkin bread for the kids' teachers. (I could live on all things pumpkin for the next two months!) What are some of the things that make you Fall in Love with fall? ~Erin

Hot Mulled Cider // from The Pioneer Woman

Heirloom Sweater Boots // from Spool 72

Caramel Apple Cheesecake // from Annie's Eats

Pumpkin Donuts // from Pick Fresh Foods

The Perfect Scarf in Pumpkin // from Northernly

Fall Subway Art Printable // from Bombshell Bling

Find more on our {Fall In Love Pinboard}

Fall Football Fun

Between high school Friday Night Lights (my husband is a coach) College Game Day (Go Wolverines!) NFL Sunday and Monday Night Football (Go Broncos!)...Fall is all about FOOTBALL in our house. Today we're sharing some of our favorite recipes, decorations and printables from our Game Day pinboard to get you in the CHEERING spirit!! Who's your favorite team to cheer for? ~Erin

Tip Tuesday - Soccer Snack Printables

Sydney started soccer last week and she is loving it! Such a fun sport. It is great to see her enjoying the game and being a part of the team building opportunities happening on the field. Soccer games mean Soccer Snack!! We are loving these free printables from The Chic Site to fancy up simple brown lunch sacks. You can grab the printable HERE and next time it's your turn to bring snack you can do it in STYLE! 

Tip Tuesday - First Day of School Teacher Gifts

It's hard to believe that Summer is already over for some. We still have a few weeks left until our First Day of School is upon us, but we are already thinking about it! It's always fun to start the year off on a happy foot. We've put together a pinboard of fun Back To School printables and ideas - a few of which we've highlighted here. Easy First Day of School gifts for Teachers! We especially love the "Getting To Know You" questionnaire. A great way to get to know your teachers favorite things - making gift giving easy the rest of the school year! 

Have A BRIGHT Year from The TomKat Studio :: just grap a pack of multicolored highlighters or sharpie markers and tie with a bow!

Getting To Know You Teacher Questionnaire from eighteen25 :: this way your future gifts will be sure to ones your teacher will like and use!

One Smart Cookie from It's Overflowing :: fill a mason jar with homemade cookies and tie on this tag. Easily dress up the top of the jar with a flattened cupcake liner!

Berry Special Teacher from Skip To My Lou :: these berry baskets are filled with paper strawberries, but you could do real berries or berry shaped sugar cookies instead!

Hi-Lite of my Day from One Charming Party :: easy, practical and cute!

Totally Bananas About Being in Your Class from The Twinery :: bake up a batch of banana bread or muffins and tie on this cute tag!

You're the WRITE teacher for me from Katrina's Paperie :: dress up some No2 pencils with some washi tape and tie with a bow!

How ever you choose to greet your Teacher on the First Day of School, make sure to let them know how excited you are for a new year in their classroom! You can find more great First Day ideas, treats and printables on our Back To School Pinboard.

Think About It Thursday - Summer Journaling

I don't know about you, but we are quick to forget about the "Three R's" here in the Summertime. Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic fall by the wayside to water balloons, barbeques and the beach! I wanted to come up with a fun way to keep the kids doing a little "school work" throughout the Summer that didn't feel like a chore.

I came up with a list of writing prompts and bought them each a Wide Ruled Notebook. (These notebooks are $1.50 at Target right now, and for each Up & Up school supply you buy, Target will give one to the Kids In Need Foundation! You know we at SydneyPaige LOVE THAT!) 

Then, I used a black sharpie to write each prompt at the top of a page. I left a blank page after each prompt in case it sparked a lot of writing, or the kids wanted to accompany their work with a drawing or photograph. It's my goal to have the kids complete a prompt 2-3 times a week. I'm going to aim for every other day til they head back to school.

We've completed two prompts so far and the kids seem excited about it! (They are nerds like me...easily excited by all things school/office supply related. lol) But seriously, I'm hoping this Summer Journal Project will be something they enjoy and begin to look forward to. The kids have been taking turns reading their journal entries out loud for the family at dinnertime. It's sparked some great conversations and laughter! -Erin

Print out our Summer Journal Prompts and get your kids "working" through their Summer too!  

Tip Tuesday - Summer Bucket List

SUMMER!

There are things I love about every season, but having my kids home as we play through long days and late nights, is what makes Summertime my absolute favorite! Print out our Summer Bucket List and get started on some messy, wet, hands on, sunny, Summertime FUN! I've linked to some of my favorite ways to complete the tasks above:

Sponge Water Bombs // The Chic Site

Homemade Popsicles // Tatertots & Jello

Sidewalk Chalk Paint // Happiness Is Homemade

Lemonade Stand Printables // Anders Ruff

 Make the most of this this time of year and enjoy feeling "like a kid again" with the young ones in your life! -Erin